myguideTravel Blog

Celebrating Saint Patrick

March 16th, 2008

As we approach the traditional feast day of Ireland’s patron Saint, Patrick, on March 17, it is interesting to note that in 2008 the religious celebration of it was moved by the Church to Saturday, March 15 to avoid a conflict with the start of Holy Week. Arguably one of the most famous saints (along with probably Saint Nicholas and Saint Valentine), Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide in both religious and secular fashion. Even though Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, the first public celebration of his feast day was actually organized by the Charitable Irish Society in Boston and held in 1737. Today, celebration of the day has turned into a week long affair in Dublin with parades, parties, dancing and much more. Indeed, most of the world has embraced the day and added to it in their own special way. Nevertheless, it remains the quintessential Irish day of celebration by the Irish, Ireland’s diaspora and the Irish for a day.

In recent years, Saint Patrick’s Day has been synonymous with an exodus of Irish politicians worldwide to help celebrate the day abroad. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will visit the White House again to present President George W. B Bush with a bowl of shamrocks.

While New York claims to have the largest parade (over 150,000 participants and over 1.5 million viewers) and Hot Springs, Arkansas claims the shortest parade (along its Bridge Street which was anointed the ’shortest street in the world’ in the 1940s by Ripley’s Believe it or Not), the depth and breadth of celebration is tremendous. From Tokyo to Montreal and Moscow to Sydney, people raise a toast to Patrick and the Irish around the world on March 17. But, when raising your pint this year, why not consider visiting the Emerald Isle for a true taste of Ireland and the Irish. You can even visit Saint Patrick himself in County Down, where his mortal remains are believed to be buried.

Entry Filed under: Ireland, Travel